Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there is a complete lockdown in Chattogram, the port city and main gateway of the country. Meanwhile, corona tests have been started at Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectors Dieses BITID Fouzdarhat, the second hospital in the country. Chattogram Port has continued its operation for unloading food grains and essential items and loading export consignments aboard ships.
Army patrol teams with police and officials of civil administrations were seen patrolling various areas of Chattogram city. They have also been requesting city residents not to move around unnecessarily. If urgently needed to go out, army personnel urge the residents to leave home with necessary documents along with identity card.
No public transport have been seen in the streets, excepting some Rickshaws and a few private cars . According to Mohammad Illeas Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram district, to avoid COVID -19 infection as part of shutdown countrywide, in Chattogram all markets, offices and other institutions are closed, only shops of essential commodities and medicine will remain open.
Law enforcers including army personnel led by magistrates are patrolling the areas. The law enforcers also have kept their eyes on commodity markets so that no one can manipulate the situation, He added.
In medical stores, sufficient number of protection equipment including Personal Protection Equipment PPE, Mask and Gloves for doctors, nurses and staff of health care are available. A major development in fight against coronavirus in the country is that, tests have started in the port city after Dhaka.
Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, Civil Surgeon of Chttogram said, samples of some people suspected of having corona virus have been sent for testing to BITID at Fouzdar Hat, where all arrangements have been setup to test and treat the COVID-19 infected people.
Authorities have locked down two buildings inhabited by people who are infected by coronary virus for last four days. Moreover, nine hundred people who have come from aboard are in isolation, he added.
Although lockdown is going on, the operational activities of Chattogram Port is quite normal. But office management works in Port Buildings is being limited. Officers and staffs not related with operation are on vacation but have been urged not to leave the area. Customs and relevant offices including Bank and transports remain open under special arrangements.
Port officials said there is no restriction on port operation. If need arises, then only ships carrying food, medicine and other essential goods will be attended. Khatungonj, the country largest wholesale commodities market, was partially active on Thursday, the last day of the week. Some stores are filled with goods though number of customers is low.
Sagir Ahamad, secretary of Khtungonj business association said, the Government decision is not clear if the wholesale market will remain open or not. Owners and staffs of many stores and customers cannot come to the market as public transports are off roads. There is enough stock of food and other essential goods, said Sagir Ahamed. The Deputy Commissioner’s office also said Mobile courts led by Magistrates are in the markets to oversee the prices.